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Microwave coagulonecrotic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
N Yamanaka1, T Tanaka, T Oriyama
1First Department of Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya 663, Japan.
World Journal of Surgery
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Microwave coagulonecrotic therapy (MCT) offers a less invasive alternative for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with poor liver function. This study shows MCT provides comparable survival rates to traditional surgery with fewer complications and faster recovery.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary surgery
- Minimally invasive therapies
- Oncology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant challenge, especially in patients with compromised liver function.
- Traditional surgical interventions like wedge resection (Hx) carry substantial risks for this patient group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave coagulonecrotic therapy (MCT) for HCC in patients with poor hepatic reserve.
- To compare MCT outcomes against conventional wedge resection (Hx).
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 27 patients treated with MCT (laparoscopic or open) and 23 patients treated with wedge resection (Hx).
- MCT involved microwave electrode application at 100 watts for approximately 30 minutes.
- Patient groups were matched for liver dysfunction severity and tumor characteristics.
Main Results:
- MCT group demonstrated significantly shorter operative times and negligible blood loss compared to the Hx group.
- MCT had no operative mortality, versus 4.3% in the Hx group, with significantly fewer complications (11.1% vs. 34.8%).
- Postoperative bilirubin levels were lower, and diet resumption was earlier in the MCT group. Three-year survival rates for MCT were comparable to Hx (86% vs. 75% crude, 44% vs. 14% disease-free).
Conclusions:
- MCT is a viable and less invasive alternative to limited resection for HCC in patients with poor hepatic reserve.
- MCT achieves comparable long-term survival outcomes to wedge resection with improved safety and recovery profiles.
- The technical simplicity and reduced invasiveness make MCT a valuable treatment option.